Wednesday, 19 June 2013

Mumbai Rains

Every morning, since last ten days, I am dressed to go out to complete some
errands like marketing and a visit to the bank. Before stepping out, I look up
in the sky, the thick dark clouds are very discouraging, I change my mind.

I am
restless.

It is raining non-stop. I am not very brave to venture out in heavy rains.
The recent fracture was very inconvenient and had me home bound for three
months. The memory of pain has not yet faded away. I am afraid to go out on wet
streets. The roads in Mumbai are slippery. There is puddle everywhere. I am
always afraid of losing my balance.

My errands can wait. But how long?

This Sunday I decided to go to my sister’s place for lunch. Sundays is family time. I am too lazy to cook and spending time with my sister’s family is always a better option.

It was raining heavily. I could have called my nephew to come and fetch me but then ruled out against it. I decided to hail an auto-rickshaw instead. Walking
slowly at snail’s pace, puffing at every step, I reached down to the gate, and was
surprised to see stream of water running closer to the footpaths. I stood at
curb, waving at every auto-rickshaw. None was willing to go in the direction
that I wished to go.

I decided to walk. Taking each step slowly, under heavy
rains, balancing an umbrella and my handbag I waded through water. “Go back
home, go back home” my inner voice prompted me. Many times I was tempted to
turn back to the comfort of my home. The umbrella served no support against strong
winds and rain. Soon I was drenched from head to toe by passing vehicles that
splashed water from the puddle on my clothes.

Cool, wet breeze blew against my face. Suddenly I realized
that I was enjoying the walk in the rain.

Memories of childhood cascaded in my mind. I love rain and
have walked in the rain many times. During my growing up years, I never missed
school if it was raining.Many times
have run down the steps into building compound to get drenched in the first
showers of the rain.There have been
long bike rides with my friends under dark skies to the lakes. The sound of the
rain is music to my ears. Mumbai city gets paralyzed during monsoon, it’s
nothing new but I have walked in heavy rains in the past and have enjoyed every
moment of it.

The same wave of pleasure enveloped me once again.

I walked in the rain for quite a distance till I found an
auto-rickshaw.

Finally I saw Venice on the linking road.

People continued to go about their business, rain scares nobody

A common sight of vehicles that refuse to cooperate.

The little time I spent walking in the rain is the moment that remains etched in my mind. Maybe I should walk again.

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About Me

Blogger, Writer, Fund raiser.I have published 2 books on computers for kids, a set of 24 modules on mathematics for pre-school and two stories in 'Chicken soup' series I am a team member for quarterly magazine called 'Beyond Sindh' (a magazine for young Sindhis around the world, published from HongKong) I am also a committee member and hon.member on board of trustees for 'Swami Brahmamand Pratishthan, centre for mentally challenged', CBD, Belapur. .